Allexer Namundjembo
Otavi Constituency councillor George Garab has called on the government to declare road crash fatalities a national emergency.
He said the country can no longer treat fatal crashes as routine incidents.
Garab recently tabled the motion during the first session of the seventh National Council.
“I rise with sincere gratitude for the opportunity to table this important motion, which speaks directly to a matter of urgent national concern affecting every household across Namibia,” Garab said.
He referred to figures from the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund newsletter dated 30 April 2026, which recorded 921 crashes, 1 467 injuries and 143 deaths between 1 January and 26 April 2026.
“These figures are not merely statistics; they represent lost lives, shattered families, and a national crisis that demands immediate, decisive, and sustained intervention,” he said.
Garab also referred to recent fatal crashes, including the 29 April head-on collision between Arandis and Swakopmund that killed eight people and the 1 May crash between Otjiwarongo and Okahandja that claimed ten lives.
“The continued rise in fatalities and serious injuries on Namibia’s roads has reached intolerable and unacceptable proportions. It continues to rob our nation of productive lives, inflict unbearable emotional trauma on families, and impose significant economic and developmental costs on the state,” he said.
The motion calls on the government, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, to speed up the planning and construction of dual carriageways between Okahandja, Otavi and Grootfontein, as well as other high-risk roads.
It also proposes stricter law enforcement, better road infrastructure, mandatory vehicle inspections, improved wildlife control along highways and the introduction of intelligent traffic monitoring systems.
Garab further called for investigations into crashes linked to speeding, drunk driving and other preventable causes. He also urged stronger protection measures for pedestrians and cyclists in towns and cities.
He requested that the matter be referred to the standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing for further consultations and public hearings in accident-prone areas.
“This situation can no longer be treated as routine; it is a national emergency requiring urgent structural intervention,” Garab said.
The motion was referred to the committee for further investigation.
The concerns come as the MVA Fund continues warning about rising road deaths in Namibia.
MVA Fund chief executive officer Rosalia Martins-Hausiku recently raised concern over a 45% increase in pedestrian deaths and said men account for about 74% of road fatalities in the country.
According to the fund, about 72% of crashes are caused by human error, including speeding, driver fatigue, overloading and distracted driving.
Between January and October 2025, Namibia recorded more than 2 600 crashes, 414 deaths and thousands of injuries.
